By Antonio D. French
Filed Friday, February 17 at 8:44 AM
Love him or hate him, Craig Schmid has balls.
The 20th Ward alderman has rubbed a lot of people the wrong way recently with his bill to seize people's cars if they own speakers capable of playing loud music (a softer version of the bill passed yesterday, click here to see exclusive video of Schmid explaining the new bill) and with his refusal to allow any new bars in his ward (restaurants only).
But yesterday, Schmid put those balls to good use and ignored what has been a major obstacle to any kind of comprehensive city redevelopment, the tenet known as "aldermanic courtesy".
Steve Patterson reported yesterday that Schmid attended a hearing on a proposed McDonald's to be built in the 15th Ward, which borders Schmid's ward. Alderman Jennifer Florida did not appreciate Schmid's presence one bit. Imagine her rage when he actually testified against the development.
Jake Wagman of the Post-Dispatch says Florida felt like she was "slapped" or "beat up" and was "completely blindsided". "I question his ethics," Florida told Wagman. "I would not do that to an enemy. Let alone a colleague."
Florida got in Schmid's face and said, "Craig, this is going to happen whether you like it or not." Wagman reports. Kind of like she told Elliot Davis when he got in her face a few months ago.
We applaud Craig Schmid for his actions. The City of St. Louis is not a collection of 28 autonomous territories. Tradition and limits on the power of the mayor in the city's charter allow aldermen to act as if actions or inaction in their wards don't affect the rest of us, but they're wrong. In this case, it's Craig who's right. We'd like to see other aldermen take his lead.
But one warning: Not long ago, there was another 20th Ward alderman who regularly overlooked "aldermanic courtesy". When the last redistricting occured, she found that her ward had moved to the other side of the city -- without her.
5 Comments:
Wow, I gotta give Schmid props for opposing the trans fat filled McDonalds...
10:00 AM, February 17, 2006
Florida has to be one of the easier aldermen to beat. But it's a ways off and who's up for the challenge? Joe Daus? Fred Hessel? Dave Drebes?
12:05 PM, February 17, 2006
That's a 4-way race I'd like to see.
12:50 PM, February 17, 2006
Even though I definitely don't always agree with Alderman Schmid, I will say that he does seem to actually think about issues and give them some consideration. It is my (admittedly not wholly informed) impression that he does actually listen to feedback, at least sometimes.
I'm not saying he's perfect, but it's a big step in the right direction (that direction being away from aldermanic courtesy!).
1:12 PM, February 17, 2006
We need some ball busters to shake things up...
The old traditions must end if St. Louis is to make real progress.
Hats off to Schmid.
1:05 PM, February 19, 2006
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